07 Jun 2018

Local athletes are set to compete at the International Leichtathletik Dessau Meeting in Germany June 8.

Amantle Montsho, Galefele Moroko, Loungo Matlhaku and Onkabetse Nkobolo will line up in different events.

Commonwealth Games 400 metres gold medalist, Montsho will face Aksyonova Kseniya, who is a  neutral athlete, Harper Diana and Powell Micha of the USA, British sprinter Anyika Onuora, South Africa’s Palframan Justine, Azevedo Cátia of  Portugal, Kopf Ann-Kathrin  and Gerken Alena of Germany.

On paper, Montsho is a strong contender and if she prepared well for the race, she will be in a good position to win the race with ease.

She has proved during the Commonwealth Games that she has changed her tactics. Her speed and technique should make her opponents worried.

In 100 metres, Matlhaku, who is yet to stamp her authority in international competitions, will line up against Jamaica’s Stewart Kerron, Germany’s Laura Müller and Constanze Dietzsch and Lebanese sprinter, Aziza Sbaity.

A fierce battle is expected in the 200 metres race where Moroko will face Joanna Atkins of the USA, German Laura Müller, Justine Palframan of South Africa, Kenyan Maureen Maiyo and Sbaity.   

However, all eyes will be on Onkabetse Nkobolo in 400 metres to see if he can emulate his compatriots by sending a strong message to the world that Botswana will continue to dominate the event.

Looking at the lineup, Nkobolo is the strongest and his only threat can be South African, Zakithi Nene.

 He is tipped to have a smooth sailing to the finish line as he is against Germans Johannes Trefz, Alexander Juretzko, Torben Junker, Manuel Sanders, Tobias Lange, Jacob Krempin, Marvin Schlegel, Fabian Dammermann and Florian Weeke.

Nkobolo said he prepared well for the race and expects to leave an indelible mark in Germany.

“I haven’t been competing in international meets because I was still fine tuning my start, and I have found a formula and I think I am ready to fight,” he said.

Talking about the return of Montsho to international competitions, track and field analyst Billy Tambula said despite the fact that she had not been busy since coming back from the Gold Coast, the athlete had proved to be hungry to win competitions. He said Montsho might not record a Personal Best (PB) from the competition, but that he was confident that she would run a good race.

“Harper and Onoura remain the toughest competitors in this race, but I am happy that at least most of the athletes from the Commonwealth Games are now back in action again. We need them engaged as we have only a month left before the Africa Senior Championships,” he said. ENDs